The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-10-29
PAINTERS FRANKS.
Some Pleasant Stories - Tricks
Played by Paris Art Students.

Some Pleasant Stories - Tricks
Played by Paris Art Students.
Messrs. Robinet and Boudinier, members
OF the Institute, were comfortably seated,
stirring their coffee in the smoking-room OF
their colleague, Cabassun, when the latter's
servant came in and informed his master
that he was needed at the school of Fine
Arts.
'Who wants met" exclaimed, with a
show of bad humor, Cabasson, who was
Aust then lighting cigar.
:, 81 don't know. SIR" replied the domestic.
Gall right. Tell them to wait" said
Cabasson, and when the door closed behind
the servant he continued: "That brute
never knows any thing"
He puffed away for few seconds, then
arising abruptly he said: "After all, l
might as we'll see about it and get through
at once. And he went out. A few minutes
later tho door Of the smoking-room flew
open, ard Mr.. Cabasson member Of the In
stitute, appeared on the threshold, his face
as red as ripe tomato, his eyes flaming
with anger.
"Why, what is the matterl" inquired
both Robinet and Boudinier at the same
time
"Do you know what those devils have just
done3" exclaimed Cabasson, the painter,
folding his arms and striking o tragical at
titude.
'sWhat devilsa"
s'My students, as matter Of course"
"No. Whata"
swell, they took advantage of the fact
that good old countryman, an uncle to one
of them, had dropped in to see his nephew.
They coaxed the old fellow into the studio,
and, stripping him of his clothes, tattooed
his body and limbs till he looked like q
savage, after which they sent him out into
the streets in that outlandish costume"
Mr.. Boudinier, of the Institute who still
had his cup in his hand, burst out in 6
hearty laugh, which soon terminated in {
choking fit brought on by some of his coffee
taking the wrong passage down his throat
''You find that very funny, don't you9'
exclaimed Cabasson in towering rage.
swell, how can help ita" inquired Mr.
Boudinier, ''Jokes of that kind always
amuse me-"
"Hang it, they don't amuse me-" sale
Cabasson. "and I'll prove it right away"
''How sos''
''By kicking every one Of them out"
.'Whatl your studentsl" asked MIR. Robi
net. "Pshawi you take things too much tt
heart. Here, have some coffee, and think
quietly over the matter for few minutes
I will agree with you that the joke was car
ried rather far, but then, we have done just
as bad ourselves"
''Just as bad, if not worse" added Mr.
Boudinier.
"We2" exclaimed Mr.. Cabasson. ''No
Never"
"Come, nowl Were we not young our
selves once upon timef"
kkA IL
were guilty of such outrageous behavior
No! Morbleu, never!"
'sDo you think notl Well, just let m,
tell you what did once, who speak t,
you at this moment"
swell, fire away, If it amuse you, bu
hurry up"
''It was IN the studio of Father Bertrand
4, You remember him, don't youa On tn
Quay de Cont, exactly, that's it, between
the Institute and the Mint We wer'
about fifteen rascals there at the time, ant
We could easily have discounted thos
whom you style your devils. This stor,
will prove the truth of the assertion.
SIT was one Of those fine, warm, sum,
days of June that awaken in the youthful
brains of sixteen an irresistible craving tt
so where there are green leaves and grass
desire to escape from Paris like drov,
OF colts flying from an unlocked stable
One of those desires had seized us. Chatou
Meudon, Bougival, there was but tn
trouble of choosing. No, there was anothe
trouble! We turned our pockets insid
out, and the whole fifteen could only scrap'
together three francs and q half. Wha
were we to dol 1t was then that one OF Vi
had an idea worthy Of genius.
''Ten steps beyond our studio, in hollow
we had noticed u double,door. What coul
there be behind itl We know that it wa
an extensive hollow, a kind of subterranea
cave, reached by stairway, where tn
crossing sweepers put away their brooms
In five minutes our plans were decided on
Two would watch along the quay to Civ
warning Of the approach Of the police. Tw
others forced tho lock. In less than fiftee
minutes the cellar was transformed. Tn
brooms were piled up in corner. Fou
benches were brought down from the studi
and placed in rows as at theater. Tw
red curtains concealed the farther wall.
dozen candle-ends, in row on fifth benc
did duty as footlights, and the hall wa
ready for the audience.
What audienceiuWhy, thenpassers-by, {
course. 1t is only necessary to attrat
them. This is the business of the thre
stationed at tho entrance which had bee
covered with two flaming red curtains, tn
second set of the studio giving our celia
all the appearance OF an outlandish ten
''Wulk in, gentlemen, walk in! 1t costs bl
atrife; only twenty sous to see tho moi
wonderful curiosity In Paris. No, MADAM
not you; ladies and children are not admi
ted. Only men are allowed in to see Jh
most extraordinary curiosity, the only on
Of its kind in the world"
Three or four passers-by, attracted by Il
high-soundng announcement. pay and {
In. When they reach the cellar they tai
seats on the benches, and are requested
wait till the hall Is filed. Little by litt
the audience comes in. Eight, ten, twelv
spurred on by curiosity, come down. An
overhead on the quay, the high-soundir
phrases continue. Not even the shadow
apoliceman Is to be seen. There is Il
watching over jokers. This god, with II
drunkard's and everybody else's, max
three. Five minutes later the hall IL near
full Twenty boobies have allowed thel
aalvaa IN ba takan In. The Cash In count